Healthier diet could prevent deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed Wednesday.

Death rates from cardiovascular disease are twice as high among people who eat diets high in saturated fat, trans fats, calories and salt such as processed food, junk food or canned soups, said the study.

Subsequently, government policies that ban industrial trans fats, reduce saturated fats and salt in food while encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption could cut deaths from cardiovascular disease by 20 percent.

The study made comparative research between countries already introduced healthier food policies including Demark, Norway and Sweden, and Britain, a country that employs no such policies. It concludes that by changing policies, Britain, with a population of 62 million, could save up to 30,000 lives each year.

The study predicts that a ban on industrial trans fats in Britain could save almost 5,000 lives each year. A policy that reduced salt intake from 8.6g to 5.6g per day could save almost 7,000 lives while an additional three portions of fruit and vegetables eaten daily could prevent 7,400 deaths.

More people around the world die from cardiovascular diseases than any other causes. These diseases are responsible for 17.3 million deaths in 2008, representing 30 percent of all global deaths.

The major causes of cardiovascular disease are tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.
WHO predicts if the current rising trend continues, by 2030 almost 23.6 million people will die from cardiovascular diseases.

 VietNamNet/Xinhuanet